Milford News | 1932-03-17 | Page 7 | Opium in Commerce

Opium in Commerce Opium is the dried milky juice ol the unripe capsules of a poppy which for this product has been cultivated through many centuries. Every species spe-cies of poppy is capable of yielding it to a greater or less extent. Opium is procured by making Incisions In the poppy head or capsule, taking care not to penetrate its cavity. The juice then exudes In drops, and after being allowed al-lowed to rimain for a day upon the edges of the incision it Is scraped off a brownish, jellylike material. As the soft opium accumulates it Is molded intc roundish lumps or irregular flattened flat-tened cakes of various sizes and put aside to dry. When of proper consistency consist-ency it Is generally wrapped In leaves and sent to market.